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Message:: [QUOTE="Sulla80, post: 3257024, member: 99456"]<a href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/11000/roma-tempio-della-concordia-al-foro-romano-temple-concord-roman-forum-rome" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/11000/roma-tempio-della-concordia-al-foro-romano-temple-concord-roman-forum-rome" rel="nofollow">[ATTACH]855901[/ATTACH]</a>  A <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-ancients-must-be-laughing-at-us.327790/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-ancients-must-be-laughing-at-us.327790/">recent thread</a> in CoinTalk on technology, got me thinking that maybe the ancients would be proud their descendants or even envious of our technologies - instead of laughing at us.  A coin that I received a few months ago arrived with an interesting letter from Christmas 1967 and opened a door to the turbulent date in Rome, technology, medical practice in ancient Rome, and a connection to another well known denarius.  This "Acilia 8" is the coin:[ATTACH=full]855903[/ATTACH] Man. Acilius Glabrio circa 49 BC AR DenariusObv: SALUTIS Laureate head of Salus rightRev: IIIVIR VALETV M ACILIUS Salus standing left, leaning against column and holding serpent. This coin was minted at the beginning of the Roman Civil War that would last four years and see Julius Caesar declared “Dictator perpetuo” and then assassinated on the ides of March.  Between 60 BC and 53 BC the republic had been governed by a triumvirate of Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeius (Pompey the Great), and Marcus Licinius Crassus.  When Crassus died in 53 BC in his attempt to conquer Parthia.  Political tension between Pompey and Caesar grew, and the health of the republic was at risk.   “IIIVIR” or triumvir refers to the office of the mint magistrate or moneyer (triumvir monetales).  “M ACILIUS” Manius Acilius Glabrio was the moneyer and a supporter of Pompey. The coin's images could be a message of personal support to Pompey who fell ill or was recovering from illness around this time, or a broader message in support of the health of the republic.  Salus was also known by other names, the reverse on this coin refers to “VALETV” for “Valetudo” (health) another Roman name for the Greek goddess Hygeia. Salus, was the daughter of <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25609491?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Af9fe985ab14de2d8b4bbae794b5dc0dc&seq=17#page_scan_tab_contents" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25609491?read-now=1&refreqid=excelsior%3Af9fe985ab14de2d8b4bbae794b5dc0dc&seq=17#page_scan_tab_contents" rel="nofollow">Aesculapis</a>, and the goddess of health.  Aeskulapis (or Greek Asklepios) was the son of Apollo and the <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Heroine/Koronis.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.theoi.com/Heroine/Koronis.html" rel="nofollow">Thessalian princess Koronis</a>.  After ordering Koronis to be killed for adultery, Apollo rescued Asklepios, and put him in the care of  the <a href="http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KentaurosKheiron.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/KentaurosKheiron.html" rel="nofollow">Centaur Chiron</a>, who taught Asklepios healing.  Asklepios had 5 daughters, Hygeia the greek goddess who aligns to the Roman Salus.  His four other daughters were Panacea: universal remedy, Iaso: recuperation from illness, Aglea: glow of health, and Aceso: healing process. The other well known denarius that this coin is linked with is the Caesar elephant - in my example a worn fouree:[ATTACH=full]855904[/ATTACH]Julius Caesar, circa 49 BC, AR denarius (fouree)Obv: Elephant advancing right, trampling horned serpentRev: CAESAR in exergue / Pontifical implements: ladle (simpulum), sprinkler (aspergillum), axe (securis), and pontiff's cap (apex). The tools of pontifex maximus can also be seen as a message in support of the health and well being of the republic of the republic.   What these two coins also have in common is a snake…and perhaps more.  Michael Harlan in his book, and in <a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0;wap2" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0;wap2" rel="nofollow">this internet exchange</a>, discusses the possibility that the elephant trampling the snake could be a media reply to the first coin.  In this case the elephant, associated with Pompey supporter Mettelius, is trampling the snake, a symbol of the health of the republic.  Somehow it brings to life the politics of Rome to think about Caesar calling out his rival with a denarius tweet. Healthcare ancient & modernThe snake is associated with the staff of Asculapius.  We can recognize the staff or rod of Asculpius in many modern contexts like this logo for the world health organization:[ATTACH=full]855926[/ATTACH] Why is a snake, a symbol of evil and a deadly threat, linked to healthcare and medicine?  The link has been made to Moses healing Israelites afflicted by a plague of serpents, as well as to the shedding of a snakes skin as a form of rebirth, and the snake itself as a source of healing medicine. The Acilia 8 arrived with a 2x2 flip insert and a letter (I’ve redacted last names and addresses for privacy).  These materials tell a story not only of the coin but of previous owners of the coin and their relationship and the practice of medicine today and in ancient Rome.  The receiver of the coin in 1967 was a well-respected leader in his field: [ATTACH=full]855902[/ATTACH]“Many thanks for your kindness to Alessandra earlier this year.  The man whom this coin commemorates Archagathos, a Greek surgeon.  Pliny states that when he first opened up practice in Rome, he was called VULNERARIUS (wound surgeon) – later when the Romans got to know him better he was called CARNIFEX (butcher)!  No comparison is intended – and I wish you and Agatha a Merry Christmas.  Affectionate Regards, Adrian.” In the quote from Pliny, he tells us that Arcagathos was a doctor in 219 BC:"who came over from Peloponnesus, in the year of the City 535, L. Æmilius and M. Livius being consuls....from the cruelty displayed by him in cutting and searing his patients, he acquired the new name of "Carnifex"-  Pliny the Elder, The Natural History (<a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=29:chapter=6&highlight=archagathus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=29:chapter=6&highlight=archagathus" rel="nofollow">full context</a>) Marcus Valerius Martialis, "Martial", who lived between 38 and 104 AD, writes of medicine in imperial Rome - apparently not much improved from the times of the early republic: "less popular physicians were sometimes compelled to take more lucrative callings to escape starvation. Martial refers to one who became an undertaker's assistant, <blockquote><blockquote>Dialus, who was once a surgeon, Now assists an undertaker, Here at length he finds the office, To which alone his skill is suited." </blockquote></blockquote>- The Practice of Medicine in Rome, William A. Scott, MD I am glad I wasn't a patient in ancient Rome, and that I live in a world with cell phones, pharmaceuticals, cloud computers, helicopters, genetics, and many other technologies of modern healthcare, not to mention the infinite information resources and collaboration technologies of the internet.  The ancients, would probably be amazed and envious of  their descendants. Share your Salus coins or other links between ancient coins and medicine, science, and technology. References<ul> <li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439707/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439707/" rel="nofollow">Prakash M, Johnny JC. Things you don't learn in medical school: Caduceus. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2015;7(Suppl 1):S49-50.</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/_WMS/publications/wmj/pdf/107/3/115.pdf" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/_WMS/publications/wmj/pdf/107/3/115.pdf" rel="nofollow">Jones KB. The staff of Asclepius: a new perspective on the symbol of medicine. WMJ. 2008 May;107(3):115-6. PubMed PMID: 1857509</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roman-Republican-Moneyers-Their-Coins/dp/1907427589" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.amazon.com/Roman-Republican-Moneyers-Their-Coins/dp/1907427589" rel="nofollow">Michael Harlan. Roman Republican Moneyers and Their Coins 63BCE - 49BCE, Spink & Son, paperback, December 18, 2015</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/25651734" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/25651734" rel="nofollow">Nousek, Debra L. “TURNING POINTS IN ROMAN HISTORY: THE CASE OF CAESAR'S ELEPHANT DENARIUS.” Phoenix, vol. 62, no. 3/4, 2008, pp. 290–307.</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=29:chapter=6&highlight=archagathus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0137:book=29:chapter=6&highlight=archagathus" rel="nofollow">John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S., H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A., Ed. Pliny the Elder, The Natural History </a></li> <li><a href="http://nah.sen.es/vmfiles/abstract/NAHV2N3201484_93EN.pdf" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://nah.sen.es/vmfiles/abstract/NAHV2N3201484_93EN.pdf" rel="nofollow">I. Iniesta, Medicine in Greek and Roman coinage with particular reference to the history of the neurosciences, Neurosciences and History 2014; 2(3):84-93</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/25609491" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/25609491" rel="nofollow">Renberg, Gil H. “Public and Private Places of Worship in the Cult of Asclepius at Rome.” Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, 51/52, 2006, pp. 87–172.</a></li> <li><a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF03016172.pdf" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF03016172.pdf" rel="nofollow">William A. Scott,The Practice of Medicine in Rome,  Canad Anaes Soc J, vol. 2, no 8, July, 1955 </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.theoi.com/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.theoi.com/" rel="nofollow">Theoi Project, Aaron J. Atsma, Netherlands & New Zealand</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0;wap2" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0;wap2" rel="nofollow">FORVM Ancient Coins, Classical Numismatic Discussion Board, http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=88757.0;wap2  </a></li> </ul>[/QUOTE]

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